Hard data supports the fact that the 20th century as a whole and the latter half of the 20th century through today, in particular, have been among the most peaceful, disease-free and nutritionally expansive times in which to live. Share facts from Max Roser's excellent website Our World in Data, which includes charts like this one:
or this one:
This does not mean that there have not been horribly massive crises on our globe but it has to be comparative, doesn't it? That is, for the last days prophecy to mean anything, it has to be in comparison with something else. And when you compare the past, it becomes clear that while we are facing real challenges right now, we are still in a much better situation globally than ever before. I doubt this will change your friend's mind, though, since belief in the last days for most JWs is not a matter of facts.